Record Players

Experience the timeless charm of vinyl with record players that bring your favorite albums to life in rich, authentic sound.

Record Players: What to Know

Record players convert the physical grooves in vinyl records into electrical signals your speakers can amplify. DJs use them for scratching, beatmatching, and live mixing with DVS systems like Serato or Traktor. Home listeners use them for playback, often with built-in preamps and USB outputs for digitizing collections. The main split is between belt-drive models (quieter, better for listening) and direct-drive models (instant start/stop, essential for DJing). Turntables designed for DJing have high-torque motors, adjustable pitch control, and reverse play. Home models prioritize tonearm quality, cartridge options, and ease of setup.

What to Look For

Drive type matters most. Direct-drive gives you the torque and speed stability needed for scratching and cueing. Belt-drive reduces motor vibration for cleaner playback but lacks the instant response DJs need. Check the tonearm: S-shaped arms reduce tracking error, straight arms are simpler and often preferred for DJing. Cartridge compatibility determines what stylus upgrades you can use later. Look for removable headshells if you plan to swap cartridges often. Pitch control range (usually ±8% or ±10%) lets you beatmatch records. USB output is useful for digitizing vinyl but adds no benefit to sound quality during playback. Built-in preamps are convenient but external phono stages usually sound better. For DJ setups, verify DVS compatibility and check if the model includes a control vinyl license.

Top Brands

Audio-Technica builds both DJ and hi-fi turntables with solid tonearms and reliable motors. Reloop focuses on DJ models with DVS integration and club-standard build quality. Korg makes portable battery-powered options for mobile DJing and sampling.

Shop Record Players at Blackout Audio

A good turntable is the foundation of any vinyl setup, but you'll also need a phono preamp (if not built-in), powered speakers or an amplifier, and the right cables to connect everything. DJs should pair their turntable with a mixer that supports DVS if they plan to use digital vinyl systems. Free shipping on orders over $199 across Canada. Browse our full selection online and contact our team with questions about cartridge compatibility or system matching.